Managing inventory across multiple branches

When you operate more than one shop — or a warehouse plus retail front — you need stock visibility per location. Oshop247 multi-branch tools prevent Ikeja from selling Abuja's last unit by mistake.

Branches require a plan with the multi_branch_pos feature.

Step 1 — Create branches

1. Open Branches in the admin sidebar
2. Click to add a new branch
3. Enter name, address, and contact details
4. Save and set active status

Each branch can have its own POS sessions and assigned staff.

Step 2 — Enable branch inventory tracking

Not every branch automatically tracks separate quantities. Enable branch-level inventory on locations that should hold their own stock counts. Central warehouse branches may hold bulk stock while retail fronts hold floor quantity.

Step 3 — Configure online inventory source

Go to Settings → Inventory and choose how your website deducts stock:

• Central warehouse only — online orders pull from one pooled warehouse quantity
• Fulfillment branch — online orders always deduct from a designated branch (e.g. your packing room)
• All branches (combined) — customers see total available stock across branches; system deducts from branches with stock, prioritising fulfillment branch

Pick the mode that matches how you actually pack online orders. Fashion brands with one packing team often use fulfillment branch. Grocery chains with local delivery may use combined mode.

Step 4 — Assign staff to branches

From branch detail pages, assign managers and cashiers. Staff see orders and inventory relevant to their location. Owners retain global view.

Step 5 — Stock transfers between branches

When stock moves physically between locations:

1. Open Stock Transfers in admin
2. Create a transfer from source branch to destination
3. List SKUs and quantities
4. Mark in transit, then complete when received

Both branch quantities update automatically on completion — no duplicate manual adjustments.

POS and branch inventory

When a cashier opens POS, they select (or are assigned) a branch. Sales deduct from that branch's stock under branch-tracking rules. Online sales follow the inventory mode you configured in Settings.

Low stock and out-of-stock alerts

Alerts fire when branch-level or central stock crosses thresholds. Messages include branch name where applicable so the right manager restocks.

Common pitfalls

• Enabling combined online mode without branch tracking — leads to confusing counts
• Transferring stock physically but not recording transfer in admin
• Staff selling on wrong branch POS — train cashiers to check branch badge at session open

Cross-region shipping note

Shipping destinations in Settings are separate from branches. A Nigeria store shipping nationwide still uses one checkout — branches affect where stock lives, not which countries you deliver to. Cross-region international shipping may require platform approval.

Branches mirror real life: stock is in a place. Your system should always know which place.